The placenta
The placenta, which is soft and filled with the embryo’s blood, begins to form and grow during the first 4 weeks. The wall of the placenta is very thin which allows the mother’s blood supply to come alongside the foetus but their blood does not mix. Food and oxygen is passed from the mother to the foetus, and the waste and carbon dioxide is passed back from the foetus to the mother by the umbilical cord, which connects the baby to the mother’s placenta. The developing foetus does not breathe inside the uterus, but instead it uses the placenta to get what it needs to develop and survive.Birth
After about 40 weeks, the baby is ready to be born. Birth is much easier if the head presents itself first into the vagina. There are muscles in the uterus that contract gently to start with and then the contractions get very strong in order to push the baby out of the mother’s body. The mucus that has formed a plug in the cervix loosens, and with amniotic fluid, comes out through the vagina when the mother's "water" breaks. The early contractions cause the cervix to relax and widen to approximately 10 centimetres, enough for the baby to come through, and can take many hours. The muscles eventually start to push the baby down through the cervix and then through the vagina, which also enlarges slightly to become the birth canal.The baby is still attached to the uterus by the umbilical cord and the placenta. Once the baby is in the open air, it is able to breath for its self. The placenta is not needed now and is also passed through the vagina. This is called the afterbirth. The umbilical cord is cut and clamped, and as there are no nerves in the cord, it is painless. The mark left is of course, the belly button.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.natracare.com)
